Saudi Arabian journalist's Apple watch might have recorded his death

Protestors hold pictures of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a demonstration in front of the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on October 5, 2018. (OZAN KOSE / AFP/Getty Images)

An Apple Watch worn by Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi Arabian journalist who disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this month, might have recorded his death, according to a Turkish newspaper.

Khashoggi turned the recording function of his Apple Watch on before entering the Saudi consulate on Oct. 2, Sabah reported.

Advertisement

Khashoggi is believed to have been murdered while in the consulate — which he visited to obtain paperwork so that he could marry his fiancee.

His “interrogation, torture and killing were audio recorded and sent to both his phone and to iCloud,” the report said.

The recording also reportedly captured conversations between the group of assassins who where assigned to kill the journalist.

Khashoggi left his phone with his wife, who waited for him outside the consulate. Investigators say the audio file was sent to the phone, according to the report.

The journalist’s assailants reportedly tried to unlock his watch but failed to obtain its password. They ultimately used Khashoggi’s fingerprint to unlock the device, according to the report. They were not able to wipe the device clean.

Experts, however, say the scenario is unlikely. A user’s fingerprint cannot unlock an Apple Watch. It’s also unclear if audio captured by the watch would have transferred to his phone.

Saudi Arabia has denied responsibility for Khashoggi’s disappearance, saying he left the consulate the day he visited.

His fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, penned an opinion piece in The New York Times Saturday that shed light on her husband-to-be’s character.

“I admired his personality: his wisdom and courage to raise political questions in our part of the world. We connected over our shared passion for democracy, human rights and freedom of expression — the fundamental principles for which he thought,” she wrote.

She said Khashoggi was well traveled and that he loved Saudi Arabia “more than anywhere else” despite having fled his native country.

She said his “honesty, openheartedness and warmth” were among his most endearing traits.

Cengiz also reflected on the day he disappeared, possibly for good.

“Our love and our dreams of a new life together brought him from Washington to Istanbul, to get the required documents for our marriage. The hope of spending the rest of our lives together happily motivated Jamal to walk into the Saudi consulate building on that fateful afternoon, Oct. 2,” she wrote.

She described him as being “cheerful” the morning of their visit, and said the couple had made plans for the remainder of the day.

Advertisement

Had she known what the consequences would be, she never would never have suggested he enter the building, where she says a part of her also disappeared.

“Had I known it would be the last time I would see Jamal, I would have rather entered the Saudi consulate myself. The rest is history: He never walked out of that building. And with him, I also got lost there.”